Our biggest news of interest is that it appears that the Amazing Race teams and crew were on our plane from Paris to Burkina. We have no clue what they could find interesting to do in Burkina but we noticed the flight was very full and it turns out that there were 40-50 people on the plane associated with the production. We were sitting in Paris waiting to board and we kept seeing guys with really big video cameras, running up and then turning around to get video of two people coming towards them. We talked with a couple of people who said that they couldn’t say who they were with but they didn’t deny it either. There is a chance that we are in the background of several shots at the Paris airport or on the plane. Also, the SIM missionary from Ouaga who met us at the airport was definitely on camera giving directions to a team (Tim? & Don) who we had met and helped on the plane. Anyway, I think they are shooting for the fall or the spring and they said that they were in the middle of the race. If anyone could record it for us, that would be great. I’m sure there would be some interesting things about Burkina and you might get to see a little bit of our airport and what it’s like to arrive here. Several of the teams were not quite dressed appropriately to handle the heat or the cultural requirements, so it will be interesting to see what they do (there was a goth team and the guy was wearing white face paint!).

Newbie tarrules00 posts at sucks: i was IMing the other night with a friend who actually WORKS at LAX airport, she was there when the Amazing Race teams passed through and she got a clear look at all of the teams from very close proximity. she said that most of the teams were "standard" (yawn) Amazing Race teams - the dating couples, MACTORS, etc,but the team that struck her eye the most, by far, was a team consisting of two GOTH girls. she got a great look at them and said they were absolutely beautiful, but not in the standard "mactor" kind of way! i certainly hoped this was true, and by the looks of the girl in the spoiler pics with the BLACK hair, BLACK dress, and pink hat, it looks like my friend has come through with some NEW info! it's great to see the new photos and see different people represented on the show. i think i have a FAVORITE team for Amazing Race 12 already and i haven't even seen a single episode

Hereis a little from their write up: It's a Dad & son team! I like that.

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One of the contestants and his father were from Chicago and they sat across the aisle from us, so we got totalk to them a little bit.

And this: "tight warm-up pants" It's sounding better all the time

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There was at least one team that was “goth.” They had either dyed theirhair pink or were wearing a wig (couldn’t tell from where I was standing) and were wearing white face paint. You couldn’t tell thegender of the person very well, either, and I kept thinking that they looked very hot and ridiculous. Then, there were the girls whowere wearing tight warm-up pants…very shocking to the conservative Burkinabe culture where women wear skirts and dresses that gobelow the knee in public.

the layover in Paris and the stop we made in Niamey, Niger to drop off some passengers .............. Still, that’s pretty good for having traveled a total of 18 hours.

and more:

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On the flight from Paris to Niamey/Ouagadougu, we noticed a TV crew that keptfilming different odd things at the airport and on the plane. Turns out that they were filming a“race” of some sort. They weren’t allowed to tell us if it was THE race (the Amazing Race),but unless there’s going to be a spin-off sometime soon, I’d bet on it. So, who knows…wemay end up in the background of some shots that make it onto the TV footage.:0) One of thecontestants and his father were from Chicago and they sat across the aisle from us, so we got totalk to them a little bit. We were surprised that the show would send the contestants to Burkina – there’s not much here and it’s notwell known – but on second thought, I guess that makes sense.:0) So, whenever the next season of the Amazing Race airs, make sureyou watch it! I believe there’s a season currently running, so it may not be ‘til this fall/winter or maybe next spring. Aside fromlooking for us, the missionary stars on the show, it’ll be interesting to see what they show of Burkina Faso, and to see some of thecontestants as well. It was amusing, standing in the line for passport check in the airport and seeing some of the…costumes…I’m surethe Burkinabe were amused and maybe even shocked, too. There was at least one team that was “goth.” They had either dyed theirhair pink or were wearing a wig (couldn’t tell from where I was standing) and were wearing white face paint. You couldn’t tell thegender of the person very well, either, and I kept thinking that they looked very hot and ridiculous. Then, there were the girls whowere wearing tight warm-up pants…very shocking to the conservative Burkinabe culture where women wear skirts and dresses that gobelow the knee in public.

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RFF's Golden Rule:Have RESPECT for each other, regardless of opinion. This of course includes no flaming/insulting other users and/or their posts.

I've listed 10 destinations above and there can be a maximum of 11 according to the statements by CBS. If there are any TBCs, each one will probably mean one less destination. A 7 day period is a long time for one or no new destinations. I find this problematical.

I'm going to speculate too that since that flight leaves at 10:53 AM on the 13th--and knowing what a nightmare CDG is--I think 7/12 will be used in part for travel to Paris so that they will be there in plenty of time.

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So far, our Ireland spoiler has been based on an airport sighting and conversation heard by Wamgirl in LAX on July 8.

While we don't yet have any permit or photogaphic evidence for Ireland, I believe teams may have gone via Dublin and may have done tasks in County Wicklow.

I have spoken personally to several people in official positions around Ireland asking for filming information, and in one of those locations I was told that "hmmmmm...., I see that we were asked to keep that information confidential, so I will be unable to release that info."

So is a miss as good as a hit? Y'all can decide!

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RFF's Golden Rule:Have RESPECT for each other, regardless of opinion. This of course includes no flaming/insulting other users and/or their posts.

Slowhatch, puddin, kogs and I have have been working behind the scenes in an attempt to track down our teams for some time.

We can now tell you that we do have confirmation by LAX that filming was done there by WRP.

But even more interesting is what we don't have.

After hours on the phone with various officials in the film world, and a site visit by Slowhatch to EIDC, we do NOT have any evidence that film permits were obtained for LA, and have in fact been told that no permits were issued.

I have also been assured that there was no support arranged with/by the CHP, who would have been involved had the teams been on the highways.

All of these conversations have been with the people who either issue the permits or would have known had a permit been issued.

What does this mean? Well, if we believe these assurances, and I have no reason to think otherwise, then LA could not have been the start city. No permits--no filming.

So how did teams get to LAX and why were they seen in an Internationl Terminal?

The most obvious answer is that they were in transit thru LAX from somewhere else, and the start city has yet to be found.

This also fits with our earlier possible start dates of July 1-3, and new reports of team sightings in Belize.

For completeness sake, I can also tell you that Boston, Baltimore, Annapolis, Chicago and Houston and Houston airport have all been pretty much ruled out as well, although it is important to remember that that refers to within the city limits of those cities ONLY.

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RFF's Golden Rule:Have RESPECT for each other, regardless of opinion. This of course includes no flaming/insulting other users and/or their posts.

Slowhatch, puddin, kogs and I have have been working behind the scenes in an attempt to track down our teams for some time.

We can now tell you that we do have confirmation by LAX that filming was done there by WRP.

But even more interesting is what we don't have.

After hours on the phone with various officials in the film world, and a site visit by Slowhatch to EIDC, we do NOT have any evidence that film permits were obtained for LA, and have in fact been told that no permits were issued.

I have also been assured that there was no support arranged with/by the CHP, who would have been involved had the teams been on the highways.

All of these conversations have been with the people who either issue the permits or would have known had a permit been issued.

What does this mean? Well, if we believe these assurances, and I have no reason to think otherwise, then LA could not have been the start city. No permits--no filming.

So how did teams get to LAX and why were they seen in an Internationl Terminal?

The most obvious answer is that they were in transit thru LAX from somewhere else, and the start city has yet to be found.

This also fits with our earlier possible start dates of July 1-3, and new reports of team sightings in Belize.

For completeness sake, I can also tell you that Boston, Baltimore, Annapolis, Chicago and Houston and Houston airport have all been pretty much ruled out as well, although it is important to remember that that refers to within the city limits of those cities ONLY.

We still can not overlook the possibility that the teams were all flown independently to Belize City or Mexico and upon arrival began the Race there which would account for no USofA airport sightings. If teams flew independently without camera crews shooting they could very easily slip through our nets.

Agree that the sighting in LAX Interntional terminal was that of a transition site between arriving from Mexico and getting on Aer Lingus flight to Dublin. No shooting in LAX so no film permits required.